Motives
What do we call the reasons someone would choose to act a certain way?
Motives
This person makes the stuff you see on the internet.
Content Creator
True or False: a "Verified" checkmark ALWAYS means an account is trustworthy.
False.
This type of false information happens when someone deliberately alters true information in order to cause harm.
This is malicious.
Malinformation
True or False:
Only bad people share misinformation.
False
(MISinformation is simply a MIStake. It can happen to anyone)
If information online triggers strong negative feelings about others, what question should you ask?
Why would they want me to feel this way about others?
This person or company runs services for people who want to post things online.
The Host
Creators of hoax or joke accounts sometimes put the truth about their account in this section of their page.
Biography or "About Me"
This type of incorrect information happens when you share without knowing all the facts.
It is a mistake.
Misinformation
True or False:
When we notice we have shared misinformation, we should just delete it.
False
(as members of online communities, we should correct misinformation, rather than ignoring it, and we have a chance to model what to do for others)
If information online makes you eager to share or trust it without checking facts, what question should you ask?
What are they hoping I will do?
This person or company creates ads that are included with online content.
The Advertiser
Name three examples that might be red flags in an account's username or handle.
numbers3224
ALL CAPS
underlined_spaces
o+her $pec!@1 ch@r@c+er$
This type of false information happens when the person sharing it is choosing to mislead or manipulate viewers.
It is deliberate.
Disinformation
Thinking Question - Double Points!
Why was KEYC News obligated to post a second story explaining about the Grove Apartments AI hoax?
- Misinformation at first becomes disinformation if we choose not to correct it
- They want to remain a trusted source of information
If someone benefits from triggering big emotions and making you react without fact-checking, what question should you ask?
Should I trust someone who benefits from causing harm to others?
Websites and apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are examples of this.
The Host
When investigating an account's credibility, why should we look at who follows and interacts with it?
Accounts connected to creators of false information are more likely to share false information themselves.
If an official account is not followed by other official accounts, it is a sign that it may not actually be legitimate.
What type of false information would you be most likely to see in political campaign ads?
Disinformation or Malinformation
Thinking Question - Double Points!
If you accidentally spread misinformation, why should you create a new post, rather than commenting or updating the original?
- updating the original only amplifies it on social media, getting the wrong information more attention
- you can't be sure that everyone will see the most recent update first
Thinking Question - Double Points!
Is it always a bad thing when someone has a motive for creating or sharing something online?
Why or why not?
- sharing important news in order to keep people safe
- sharing creative projects to inspire others or show off our own work
- earn a paycheck
- earn money to keep services running
Content Creator
Thinking Question - Double Points!
Why might we need to be thoughtful even when encountering real accounts that are verified and official and don't show any obvious red flags?
- Even an official account may have hidden motives for the information they present. (Everybody has a perspective.)
- Accounts can get hacked at any time.
Misinformation
Thinking Question - Double Points!
If we follow all the steps on the "What to Do" page, will all the problems caused by our misinformation automatically go away? Why or why not?
No
- not everyone has good grace, and some may hold the misinformation against us, not understanding that MISinformation is simply a MIStake
- once something is posted online, it is public, permanent, and shareable. Even if we delete it from our account, there is a record somewhere. Deleting it makes it MUCH harder to find, but it does not erase it from existence
- even misinformation can cause harm to people before it can be noticed and taken down